Aerial projectile game



Feb. 2, 1960 M. KAPPEL 2,923,548

AERIAL PROJECTILE GAME Filed D60. 19, 1958 United States Patent AERIAL PROJECTILE GAME Max Kappel, Pine Plains, N. Application December 19, 1958, Serial No. 781,679 3 Claims. (Cl. 27395) The present invention relates to a game in which skill and chance are both factors in determining the score.

An object of the invention has been to provide a set of game pieces which can be employed indoors or outdoors-to provide mild exercise and relaxation with an element of competition where two or more players are involved. It is a further object of this invention to provide playing pieces of moderate size and of relatively compact design for convenience in storing and handling. Other features of said pieces are intended to enhance the chance factor in play.

Another object has been to provide game pieces which can be made of any suitable durable and otherwise appropriate material at relatively low cost, as plastic, wood, or the like. a

In general, a set of game pieces according to the present invention comprises a plurality of counters or pawns, a-target or king piece and a missile piece. In size and shape, all these pieces are substantially alike, the length of each being generally twice its width and thickness and each piece being of generally rectangular crosssectional contour with its cross-sectional area increasing toward both ends from a minimum at its midportion to a maximum adjacent one end.

Each of said game pieces is irregular in shape in that it is formed with a flat supporting face, a fiat top face, a fiat rear face, flat side faces and a front face having a curved portion extending between a lower flat end portion and an upper flat end portion, some of said faces intersecting to form end corners. The arrangement is such that said upper fiat end portion projects forward beyond said curved portion and beyond the lower flat front face providing in effect an overhanging mass at the front top edge portion of each piece and a resulting potential unbalance when the piece is tilted from upright position.

The missile piece differs from the counters or pawns and target or king pieces in being provided with a cavity or chamber which confines a weight, such as a lead slug or a plurality of lead shot, for example, dimensioned for free endwise movement in the cavity, or dimensioned to substantially fill said cavity and thus remain stationary in relation to the missile as a whole.

An embodiment of my invention as applied to a set of game pieces adapted for indoor or outdoor playing is illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application and wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view in-perspective showing a set of game pieces according to the invention and including a plurality of counters or pawns and a target or king piece arranged in a typical set-up for play, and a missile piece leaving the hand of a player and in motion toward the target and the counters;

Figure 2, a view in perspective of one of a set of game pieces as seen in Figure 1, all being alike in size and shape;

Figure 3, a central longitudinal section showing one form of missile or loaded piece appropriate for use in the set of game pieces as seen in Figure 1;

2 Figure 4, a transverse section on line 4--4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5, a central longitudinal section showing a modified form of missile wherein the loading material is free to move endwise within the missile body.

Referring to the drawings, each game piece of the set there shown is substantially the same in size and shape as each other piece. Thus, as seen in Figure 1, the pawns 10 are substantially the same in size and shape as king piece 11 and missile 12. As set up for play, the pawns 10 are arranged about inch apart in a row or rectilinear line which is spaced forwardly from a back stop 13. Where the pawns are relatively small, as about two inches long with a bottom face 14 substantially one inch square, said line or row of pawns 10 is conveniently spaced about two or three feet in front of said back stop 13; and the king piece 11 is spaced about ten inches forward from said row of pawns 10.

In shape, the game pieces are unsymmetrical in relation to a median vertical plane in that the rear face 15 of each piece is flat whereas the front surface is of irregular contour and such that an upper end portion 16 thereof extends beyond the lower end portion, producing in effect an over-hang which creates a potential unbalance when the piece, as a pawn or a king, is rocked on its bottom face 14 in play.

The irregular front face of each game piece includes a re-entrant curved face 17 extending between a lower front flat face 18 and an upper obliquely disposed front flat face 19. The curve of face 17 in relation to rear face 15 is such as to produce between their opposed midportions the minimum cross-sectional area of the piece, which area increases with the curved contour of the front face toward both ends of the piece but to a greater extent at the upper end of said curved face.

The flat side faces of each piece intersect the rear flat face 15, the bottom end face 14, the top end face 20, the curved face 17, the lower flat face 18 and the upper flat face 19. The intersections at top and bottom of the piece form corners of different sizes and angular contours thus contributing both to the irregular contour of the piece and to its inherent or potential unbalance when rocked or tilted in play. The desired irregular overall contour is due in part to corners formed by intersection of an upper obliquely disposed rear fiat face 21 with said flat side faces, said top end face 20 and said rear flat face 15..

In view of the unique function of missile 12 in play, it differs from the pawn and king pieces in weight and/ or in the distribution of its weight. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a longitudinally extending bore or chamber 22 confines within the missile a weight or loading which may be a single mass, as a lead slug, or it may be a plurality of lead shot 23 or the like, which remain in substantially fixed relation in said chamber. In the modilied form of missile shown in Figure 5, the loading, as a plurality of shot 24, is of less volume and smaller dimen sions than the chamber 22 and hence is free to move longitudinally in said chamber when the longitudinal axis of the missile is changed from one angular position to another, as in throwing or bouncing.

A game kit employing pieces as above described may advantageously consist of twelve pawns, one king piece, and one missile, or throwing piece. Where less than four players participate in a typical match, each contributes two pawns to the row or line of pawns in the initial set up. The object is for each player to win as many pawns as possible.

Under a typical set of rules, each player in turn takes his playing position about nine paces, or other suitable distance, in front of the king piece and throws, pitches.

Patented Feb. 2, 196 0 in the setup' and the players contribute to a new set up,

is penalized by having to contribute a pawn to the set up};

and the knocked down" pawns and any leaners are set up again for the next player. It will be apparent thatthe paw'n's'and king may be set upon any fairlytlevel surface which is large enough to provide a suitable throwing or pitching, distance, as 12 to 20 feet. Also the bounceeffects following impact of the missile of a given material will vary with the character of the ground or floor on which the pieces are set up. It is also expected thata missile having a freely moving load willbehave differently on impact from a missile having a load or core in fixed position.

Ibiscontemplated that sets of game pieces may be provided which are different in dimensions and/ or details ofshape" from those above'described and that the arrangementslof the pieces and the rules of play may be varied within wide limits, While retaining and employing the unique or distinguishing characteristics of the above described game pieces.

I claim: a 1. A set of game pieces for playing a game, said pieces comprising a plurality of counters, a target and a missile, all of said pieces being of substantially uniform v 'gg curved Ieentrant, contgur extending between a lower' flat end portion and an upper flat end portion, some of said faces intersecting to form end corners, said upper fiat end portion projecting forward beyond said curved portion of the front face and beyond the lower flatportion of the front face, and arranged and adapted to provide an overhanging mass at thefront top .edge portion of each 1 piece and a resulting potential unbalanced mass when wherein the missile pieceis provided with aclosed ifiterthey piece is tiltedtfrorri uprightjpo'sitio'n, the particular shape of the game pieces providing an improved factor of unpredictability in the playing 'of the game.

2. A. s'et 'of game'pieces according to claim; 1 and nally positioned cavity-and a weight element-of greater specific gravity than the material of the missile piece is confined in said cavity, said weight element being dirnen sioned for free movement lengthwise of the cavity.

3; Ajset of garnepiecesaaccording to claim 1 and I whereinnthe missileipiece is provided with a longitudinally;

extending" cavity closed at both ends, and a weight: element therein is of greater specific gravity than the target, piece and isdimensioned to substantially fill said cavity and thereby remain stationary inrelation to the missile,

size and-shape, the length of each piece being:generally Y twice its width and thickness and each piece being of generally rectangular cross-sectional contour with ,its cross-sectional area increasing toward both ends from a minimum at its mid-portion to a maximum adjacent its top end, each of said pieces being formed with a flat supporting face, a flat top face, a flat rear face, flat side faces, and a front face having a portion of longitudinally piece as a whole. 1

References Cited in the fileof this patent- UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 907,571 Chesebjro t Dec. 22 1908 1,542,063 Knight' June 16, 1925 1,627,517 Littleford May 3, 1927 1,991,671 Hodson Feb. 19, 1935 2623,7481 Lucero Dec. 30, 1952 2,666,643 Miller Jan. 19,1954

2,828,964 7 Horton ...t Apr. 1, 1958, 

